Mechanical refrigerating evaporator



Feb. 23, 1932. w. MELLOWES 1, 57

' MECHANICAL REFRIGERATING EVAPORATOR Original Filed Feb. 28, 92

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Patented 23, 1-932 .Nov. 24, 1931.

UNITED s;'-r. 'rr: sl

mno'wnaor MIL AU EE-1. wrsoonsm, assrarronfor: "r; 1 I rmwm 3. 1r.'rowrm, 3a., or MILWAUKEE, WISQQHSI1T,.

ALFRED .w..

ruicimmcnr. 'anrmerzaarme nvaronirdn.

original application and February 28, 1921', semi no. 448,412, mam.1333348. pivldedandfthil I application filed November 83,1981.'Serla1'1l'o.5 76 ,905.

The'inventionrelates to a mechanical refrigerating evaporator.

The present application is a division of application Serial No. 448,412,filed'Febr'uary' 28, 1921, now Patent No. 1,833,846, patented The mechancal refrigerating evaporator to which the invention applies inparticular is of the type which has liquid refrigerant delivered theretofrom a con enserreceiving' compressed vaporized refrigerant from acompressor and. which has va orizedrefrigerant returned therefrom to t ecompressor. The liquid refrigerant. which is delivered to the eva oratorhas commingled therewith oil from t e compressor.

The invention has as its object to provide the evaporator with an oilseparator to separate the oil from the liquid refrigerant and embodiedin practice,

return it with thevaporized refrigerant to the compressor. Anotherobject is to keep liquid refrigerant from being returned from theevatporator to the compressor with the vaporize refrigerant and oil.'-

According to the evaporator has its refrigerant container provided atthe top thereof with a separating receiver or reservoir which has anoverflow outlet to return oil separated by flotation-from liquid refrigerant to the compressor and which has the liquid refrigerant to keep itfrom rising to the overflow outlet and returning to-the compressor. 4

The evaporator which is illustrated in the accompanying drawingsexemplifies the invention and the views thereof are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a front sectional elevation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section on the line 22',1Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front sectional elevation of the oil separator.

The evaporator is provided with a liquid refrigerant container which isformed in general by multiple refrigerant ducts or tubes 1 which arearranged in two opposite groups.

header or manifold 2 andat the upper endm this invention as ordinarily"therein limited in quantity IPA TENTrlppl p multiple to a refrigerantdi'chargejhea deror H .manifold3. The refrigerant discharge manifoldisconstructed to provide an-oil separator in which oil commingled withliqluidf rejrigerant is separated therefrom and t ien returned to thecompressor with vaporized refri erant.

The multiple refrigerant tu es arear- 'ranged to provideat'the lowerpart thereof multiple freezing duct-s or tubes 4 upon both lateral sidesof a ',-freezing space and at the upper part thereof multiplecooling-ducts or 4 tubes 5 in direct contact with-the ambient air I in acooling spacewithin a cooling or refrigerating compartment."

The freezing space has arranged therein a freezing compartment -6 whichhas two chambers, each of which is openat its front end to receiveendwise a removable ice. tray 7. I

The freezing tubes and freezing compartment are enclosed within a tank 8which contains brine or other suitable liquid to increase .the thermalconductivity between the freezing tubes and freezing compartment, butother expedients maybe employed to attain the same end. l

The freezing compartment is carried by .the tank, and the tank has itstop attached to the refrigerant tubes, but other ways maybe. employed tosupport thefreezing compartment within thefreezing space.

The air cooling tubes are reflexed above the freezing compartment toincrease the heat absorbing surface thereof within a given space.

The refrigerant tubes may be increased in number and the shape thereofvaried to ob-' connected thereto a refrigerant discharge conduit or pipe10 through :which vaporized refrigerant is returned to a compressor.

The evaporator is employed in a refrigerator in which it is arranged tocool the air in a cooling or refrigerating compartment.

The refrigerating apparatus. with which the refrigerator is provided andof which the evaporator is a part has a condenser to supply or deliverliquid refrigerant to the evaporator and a compressor to withdrawvaporized refrigerant from the evaporator by suction and then compressthis vaporized refrigerant ing tubes to absorb sufficient heat to freezethe Water in the freezing compartment and cool the air in the coolingcompartment at a rapid rate.

The freezing tubes will create a freezing temperatureabout twentydegrees F ahrenj heit 20 r.

in the freezing compartment andthe coo-ling tubes will create a coolingtemperature about forty degrees Fahrenheit (40 F.) in the coolingcompartment under variations in conditions causing a Wide variation inthe heat required to beabsorbed from the cooling compartment and thefreezing compartment. I

The variations in the conditions causing a wide variation in the heatrequired to be absorbed by the evaporator from the cooling compartmentand the freezing compartment are variations in the temperature outsidethe refrigerator, variations in the temperature and quantity of foodplaced in the cooling compartment, variations in the temperature andquantity of water placed in the freezing compartment, and variations inthe time outside air is admitted to the refrigerator upon its door beingopened to obtain access to the inside thereof.

The oil separator with which the evapo:

rator is provided to separate oil from liquid refrigerant and return itto the compressor has a separating receiver or reservoir 11 having adepending trough 12, and the refrigerant tubes extend into theseparating reservoir and communicate therewith at the upper partthereof.

The separating reservoir absorbs heat from the air in the coolingcompartment in addition to that absorbed by the cooling tubes, as itreceives and contains-liquid refrigerant, and the upper warm air in-thecooling compartment passes in part over its outside surface in directcontact therewith before it reaches the cooling tubes. 7

The refrigerant discharge pipe 10 extends upward'into the reservoirthrough its trough to communicate therewith below the refrigerant tubesand forms a combined oil overflow and vaporized refrigerant outlet 13 toto ascend with the vaporized refrigerant into the separating reservoirand accumulate in its trough.

The oil then separates from the liquid refrigerant'by flotation to thetop thereof, and

when the oil rises to the over-flow outlet it' overflows therethrough bygravity into the discharge pipe and returns with vaporized refrigerantto the compressor.

If the liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant tubes is below theback-flow pipe, the liquid refrigerant in the separating reservoir willbe kept from rising to the over-flow outlet by returning to therefrigerant tubes through the back-flow pipe.

The back-flow pipe is restricted in .size to keep sufficient liquidrefrigerant in the separating reservoir to 'enablethe oil separatedtherefrom to rise to the over-flow outlet.

If the refrigerant tubes are filled with liquid refrigerant to above theback-flow pipe, then the liquid refrigerant in the separating reservoircannot be returned by the back-flow to the refrigerant tubes, but theliquid refrigerant may be kept from rising to the oil overflow outlet inother Ways, as by regulating and controlling the liquid refrigerantsupplied or delivered to the refrigerant tubes from the condenser.

The oil separator set forth herein maybe applied to differentevaporators and various modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the invention as hereinafter claime The invention setforth in the'foregoing specification is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A mechanicalrefrigerating evaporator,

comprising a refrigerant container having liquefiedrefrigerant deliveredthereto and vaporized refrigerant discharged therefrom,

an ,oil separating reservoir arranged above said refrigerant containerin communication therewith to receive therefrom liquid refrigerant andoil mixed therewith and provided with an over-flow outlet arranged abovethe liquid refrigerant and below the vaporized refrigerant therein todischarge by gravity oil separated by flotation from the liquidrefrigerant in said reservoir, and means to keep the liquid refrigerantin said reservoir from rising to said over-flow outlet.

$ cause cooled airtoenvelop said freezing conre'j frigeratingevaporator,

comprising an ill-separating reservoir having an overfl owfoutletarranged above the liquid refrigerant andbelow the va orized refrigeranttherein to discharge there rom by gravity with; vaporizedrefrigerant oilseparated by flotation from liquid refrigerant in said reservoinnarefrigerant container depending fromsaid reservoir'and communicatingtherewith, means to deliver liquid refrigerant to said refrigerantoontainer,-and means to keep the liquid' refrigerant'in said reser- V011from llSllIEilQ said over-flow outlet.

3. An air coollngiand water freezing evaporator, comprising aliquidrefrigerant container providing in part a freezing container arrangedupon eacliof oppositelateral sides of a freezing compartment to absorbheat .from'end to efid thereof at a rapid'rate to create-a freezingtemperature therein and in part a cooling container exposed to directcontact wit-h the air-in a cooling compartment to absorb heat therefromat a rapid rate to create acool ing =itemperature therein and tainersand said freezin compartment, means to del ver" liquid re rigerant tosaid refrigerant container and discharge vaporizedrefrigerant therefromand to distribute said liquid] in. multiple to said freezingcontainers,,an oi'l separating reservoir arranged at the.to fio'f saidrefrigerant container :to

' separate oil froin' liquid refrigerant by flota tion'and havin anover-flow outlet arranged above the li uid refri erantnd belowthevaporized-re rigerantt er'einft'o dischargeby -=gravi ty with vaporizedrefrigerant. oil floatingupon the liquid refrigerant in said "separatingreservoir, and means to keep the liquidrefrigerant'in said separatingreservoir from rising'to said over-flow outlet. I

, 4. A mechanical refrigerating evaporator, comprising a refrigerantcontainer having liquid refrigerant delivered thereto from a condenserand vaporized refrigerant withdrawn therefrom and returned to acompressor, a separating reservoir arranged at the top of saidrefrigerant container incommunication therewith to separate'oil byflotation fromliquid refrigerant therein and'having an oilxover-fiowoutlet arran ed above the liqoutlet to returnisaid separated oil to said'comuid refrigerant and below t e vaporized refrigerant therein todischarge-by gravity oil separated from the liquid refrigerant in saidreservoir and'risfi'ng to. said over-flow outlet, a discharge pipecoi1neotedto said over-flow pressor,'and 'means tokeep the liquidrefrigerant 1n said reservoir from rising "to said over-flow outlet. j

5.- 'A-'mech anical refrigerating evaporator, comprising the combinationwit i a liquid refrigerant container 'havm'g liquid refrigerantdelivered thereto and vaporized refrigerant discharged therefrom, of aseparating reservoir arranged at the top of said'container in'communication therewith ,to'rece'ive vaporized refrigerant from saidliquid refrigerant container and'contain liquid refrigerant with oilcommingled therewith and having an oil over-flow outlet arrangedabovethe li uid refrigerant and below the'vaporized re rigeranttherein'in a position to discharge therefrom by gravity-oil se parate'dby flotation i a from liquid refrigerant in said reservoir andover-flowin intosaid o'ver-flow-outlet.

6. A mec anical refrigerating evaporator,

over-flowing into said over-flow outlet, and a discharge conduitconnected to said 011 over- 1 flow outlet and va orized refrigerantoutlet to return separate oil and, vaporized refrigerant from saidreservoir to a compressor.

7 A mechanical refrigerating evaporator,

comprising the combination witha liquid refrigerant container havingliquid refrigerant delivered thereto and vaporized refrigerantdischarged therefrom, of a separating reservoir arranged atthe topofsaid container in' communicat on therewith to recelve va-ppori'zedrefrigerant from said liquid refrigerant-"container andcontain-liquid refrigerant with oil commingled therewith and' having inaddition to a va orized refrigerant outlet an oil over-flowout etarranged above the liquid refrigerant and below the vaporizedrefrigerant therein in a position to.

discharge therefrom by gravity oil separated by flotation from liquidrefrigerant in said I reservoir and over-flowing into said over-.fiowoutlet, means to limit in' quantity the vaporized refrigerant in saidreservoir to keep it from rising to said oil over-flow outlet, and adischarge conduit connected to said over-' flow outlet and vaporizedrefrigerant outlet to return separated oil and vaporized refrigerantfrom said reservoir-to a compressor.

8. A mechanical refrigerating evaporator,

comprising a refrigerant containersupplied with liquid refrigerant, aseparating reservoir-connected tojsaid containerat the top thereof toreceive vaporized refrigerant and contain oil separated by flotationfrom liq- I uid refrigerant therein and having an overflow outletarranged above the liquid refrigerant therein .in a position toallow'the separated oil to over-flow therethrough b gravity, and adischarge conduit connecte to said reservoir to withdraw vaporizedrefrigerant therefrom and return therewith-toa compressor separated oilover-flowing through said over-flow outlet.

9. An air cooling and water freezing evap-- orator, comprising thecombination with a refrigerant container provided with multl lerefrigerant ducts connected in multiple etween a liquid refrigerantsupply inlet and a vaporized refrigerant discharge outlet and arrangedin twogroups to form at the lower part thereof multi le freezing ductsupon both lateral sides of a freezing compartment and at the upper partthereof exposed multi ple cooling ducts in direct contact with theambient air, of a separating reservoir arranged at the top ofsa1d-conta1ner 1n communication therewith to receive vaporizedrefrigerant from said liquid refrigerant container and contain liquidrefrigerant with oil commingled therewith and having in addi-,

tion to a vaporized refrigerant outlet an oil over-flow outlet arrangedabove the liquid refrigerant and below the vaporized refrigerant thereinin a position to discharge therefrom by gravity oil separated byflotation from liquid refrigerant in said reservoir and over-flowingthrough said over-flow outlet.

10. An air cooling and water freezing evaporator, comprising thecombination with a refrigerant container provided with multiplerefrigerant ducts connected in multiple between a liquid refrigerantsupply inlet and Y a vaporized refrigerant discharge outlet and arrangedin two groups to form at the lower part thereof multiple freezing ductsupon both lateral sides 0 a freezing compartment and atthe upper partthereof exposed multiple cooling ducts in direct contact with theambient air, of a separating reservoir anranged at the top of saidcontainer in communication therewith to receive vaporized refrigerantfrom said'liquid refrigerant container and contain liquid refrigerantwith oil commlngled therewith and having in addition to a vaporizedrefrigerant outlet an oil over-flow outlet arranged above the liquidrefrigerant and below the vaporized refrigerant therein in a position todischarge'there! from by gravity oil separated by flotation from liquidrefrigerant in said reservoir and over-flowing through said over-flowoutlet,

means to limit in quantit the liquid refrig- I erant in said reservoirto eep it from rising to said 011 over-flow outlet, and a discharge pipeconnected to said oil over flow outlet.

and said vaporized refrigerant outlet to return separated oil andvaporized refrigerant from said reservoir to a compressor.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto 'subscribed my name. 7

ALFRED W. MELLOWES.

